The Sweet Home boys golf team won its first district title in history last week at the Val-Co League District Tournament at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis.
The win also guaranteed the Huskies their first trip to state as a team in school history. Individual golfers have gone in the past, including Travis Ramoz and Taylor Huschka last year, but this is the first time the whole team has qualified.
“We played our best golf of the season,” Coach Tom Horn said. “It was a total team effort. Each player contributed to the success of the team.”
Sweet Home finished with a team score of 336-330-666, three ahead of Newport (341-328-669), which also qualified for the state tournament, to be held May 12 and 13 at Emerald Valley in Creswell. Taft (339-336-675) and Central (390-377-767) finished third and fourth.
Junior Travis Ramoz led the Huskies over the two-day tournament on May 5 and 6, shooting 78-81-159 to finish third overall as an individual. Senior Taylor Huschka overcame a slow start to finish one stroke back, in fourth, with a 79-81-160.
“Travis set the pace for everyone,” Horn said, noting that Ramoz, who has been the No. 2 golfer for the Huskies in most tournaments this season, shot a 36 over the first nine holes. Horn said another highlight of the tournament was Huschka coming back strong to finish two over on the back nine on the first day.
Senior Nick Zahler was a major key to the team’s success, though, placing sixth with a “solid, solid, solid” 83-80-163. His nine-hole breakdowns were 41-42 and 40-40.
“Nick played the best golf of his high school career,” Horn said. “He did not let a little adversity get him down.”
Sophomore Jake Riggs fired a 41 for the front nine on the second day to get off to a great start on the second half and finish 96-88-184.
“That was a great score to get started,” Horn said. “He kept us in the lead at the end of nine on Day 2.”
Senior Markus Thedford stayed under 100 for both days, carding a 96-97-193 and showing “consistent play,” particularly on Day 1, Horn said.
Ross Martin of Newport shot a two-day total of 146 and won medalist honors for the tournament. Central’s Tyler Morgan, in fourth place at the turn, came back on the back nine to card a 75 for a two-day total of 155 and place second.
Ramoz and Huschka both garnered first team all-league honors, while Zahler was named to the second team.
Horn was named league coach of the year.
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In the girls district tournament at Aspen Lakes in Sisters, the Huskies only had three players so they couldn’t compete as a team in what turned out to be their final competition of the year.
Tana Tyler was the top finisher for Sweet Home, shooting 129-120-249. Haley Voldbeck finished with 132-136-268 while Savana McCalister carded 156-147-303.
“Although none of them placed, I was very proud of them for having great attitudes, playing their best and not giving up,” said Assistant Golf Coach Kendra McCaslin.
Host team Sisters dusted the rest of the field with a 700 team score, with Cottage Grove second (911) and Marist third (1034). Creswell, Junction City, LaPine and Elmira all had incomplete teams.